Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

ravinat Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:55 pm

When you hear some songs that SPB has sang for Raja, you get the impression - who else can deliver such an impact?

Raja has stretched Balu six ways to Sunday and he always delivered in the past 35 years. Let's chat about such songs!

ravinat Thu Apr 24, 2014 10:58 pm

Let me first start with a song 'Thanga NilavukkuL' from Richshaw Mama.

The words are so dense that Balu does not slip both on the musical notes as well on the words. Look at that breath control - only Balu...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tS00FrWVe1I

ravinat Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:04 pm

The next song is from Singara Velan - I call this as a 2 min lesson for all new singers by Raja and Balu.

Raja reduces himself to a solo violin and leaves Balu to sing and sob without an instrument. Put on the headphones and try to see where Balu stops for breath. This is a Balu only song. The emperor of orchestration reduces himself to a solo violin and the playback emperor is left all alone and both of them show how great foot soldiers they are in the first place...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4XLmm-m1HY

ravinat Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:07 pm

The next song is a mouthful of words and complex song structure. The lyrics are great and only a veteran like Balu can deliver. Punjai Undu from Unnal Mudiyum Thambhi...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BefkDBj5gSw

Many of the songs that I list here will never be sung in a competition, though they all appear very simple on the surface.

ravinat Thu Apr 24, 2014 11:14 pm

This is a Kannada song for which I could not get a youtube video. The song is 'Devathi Deva' - I think it is from the film Nannavanu - not sure.

The pitch at which Balu sings - it is just mind blowing. For 3 and odd minutes, he dominates the airwaves and nails the song. Show me one singer who can do this.

Usha Fri Apr 25, 2014 2:14 pm

ravinat wrote:This is a Kannada song for which I could not get a youtube video. The song is 'Devathi Deva' - I think it is from the film Nannavanu - not sure.

The pitch at which Balu sings - it is just mind blowing. For 3 and odd minutes, he dominates the airwaves and nails the song. Show me one singer who can do this.

ravinat,
indha paata neenga solradhu.......

http://player.raag.fm/player/?browser=flash&pick[]=313951

Usha Fri Apr 25, 2014 2:39 pm

Vettaruva thangi... indha paatum..... oru GEM........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y71NZF6WGRI

vanam thottu pona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blUZg_cdXck

ravinat Fri Apr 25, 2014 4:36 pm

Usha wrote:
ravinat wrote:This is a Kannada song for which I could not get a youtube video. The song is 'Devathi Deva' - I think it is from the film Nannavanu - not sure.

The pitch at which Balu sings - it is just mind blowing. For 3 and odd minutes, he dominates the airwaves and nails the song. Show me one singer who can do this.

ravinat,
indha paata neenga solradhu.......

http://player.raag.fm/player/?browser=flash&pick[]=313951

That is the song. Thanks for finding it on the internet.

Drunkenmunk Fri Apr 25, 2014 4:54 pm

Too many to list. But starting at Vaangum Panathukkum from Dhoni will be a fine place to begin for me:

Just the emotions he packs and how musically precise he is. SPB FTW.

ravinat Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:52 pm

Another Kannada song that SPB sang for Raja, that I do not have a youtube clip. 'Kelisade Prema Veda' is the beginning of the charanam. I do not know the name of the film this song was composed. However, every time I hear the last few lines of the charanam, I get blown away. Densely packed with words and musically very difficult to sing - he does it with so much ease. Chitra sings this song with him. But Raja is careful to ensure that those hard lines in both the charanams are always sung by Balu only.

Balu is both the emperor of expression and musicality. While there are other singers who can match him in musicality, there is none on expressions.

ravinat Fri Apr 25, 2014 7:56 pm

The song is from the film Gulabi (Kannada)

http://www.rakkamma.com/filmsongdetails.phtml?filmid=1521&songid=7896

ravinat Mon Apr 28, 2014 2:56 pm

This song is not just a challenge on melody, but equally on expressions. I have never heard this song in any competition sang my any of the singers. Mana malaiyum Manjalum from Vaadhiyaar Veetu Pillai (1989). The highlight of the song is the casual way in which Balu reaches the highest note at the end of the Pallavi and charanam and then continues as though nothing ever happened. Astounding breath control. I can't even imagine any other singer singing this song at half this capability.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0hedmwopU

Usha Tue Apr 29, 2014 2:51 pm

Voice Modulation...... He is the King....

Manjapodi theikkaiyile - ivar padina style il.... paatuku pudhu dimension.

Madathile kanni madathile........ Character kaga padara style.. Especially for Rajini. amazing...

ravinat Thu May 01, 2014 3:27 am

Thendralo Theeyo from Ragangal Mudivathillai. This song is not hard to sing, but extremely hard to emote. Balu nails it like only he can...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqXY4KW019Q

Usha Thu May 01, 2014 8:01 pm

appappa thithikum un mutham - enna oru rendition......

papapappa - 2nd interlude....... Ragalai SPB... ivar matumae ipadi paada mudiyum...

video iruku.. audio quality is tooooo good in this video......

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2yGiUUAZ6c

Usha Thu May 01, 2014 8:11 pm

indha paatai sollama eppadi... no words to describe...

Senorita i love u..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mIkY-TSlec

**groucho070** Fri May 02, 2014 6:16 am

Usha wrote:Voice Modulation...... He is the King....

Manjapodi theikkaiyile - ivar padina style il.... paatuku pudhu dimension.

Madathile kanni madathile........ Character kaga padara style.. Especially for Rajini. amazing...

Smoothing over. Applying some sort of cream. The partner is groggy, wanting to sleep, and the singer makes sure that the other party doesn't sleep. Beautiful....

Usha Sun May 04, 2014 9:12 pm

Annathae adarar - lovely Rendition...................

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQyVepqompI

IR songs.. paatoda flow. adhai value panra madhiri oru Renditiion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SWw2yhqa7VI

Usha Thu May 08, 2014 4:06 pm

I want tell u something...... Anand

Words Delivery........ IR's compositiionai azhagu paduthum oru Singer........

IR's compositiion's special patri.. thavaramal sollum --- Music patri therindha oru Singer.......

Stage show...... same enthu. same style.......... Nice to see..........

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0U4S9RSQEg

krraju82 Mon May 12, 2014 5:27 pm

yes usha madam its true

ravinat Thu May 15, 2014 4:33 pm

Though there were many songs int he 80s where Balu brought home his expression very well, I love this one from Ragangal Maruvathillai - Thendralo Theeyo. The song is not that hard, but observe the expression in Balu's voice. The you tube video I have included does not have the original film footage as it has been shot very poorly...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-saqZawWGo

I can't imagine any other singer with this song

**V_S** Thu May 15, 2014 4:45 pm

Excellent thread Ravi. I have been reading silently, but as you might have read in those comments (in google docs) I have not missed mentioning SPB's singing and versatility whenever such songs were hosted. The same holds true about some comments I posted in SPB-IR thread which App ji hosted in earlier forum. I have a lot to tell about this legend, will post my thoughts soon.

ravinat Thu May 15, 2014 7:26 pm

I think I mentioned about another SPB song in the 90s thread in the Hub. The song is 'Unnai Paadatha Naavum' from Irattai Roja (1996). This song is so sincere that I cannot imagine anyone else singing like this, after achieving what both Raja and Balu had, at the time of this rendering. The orchestration is simple, the just old plain good lyrics and both these guys pull it off like no one else can. I wrote about this song in the yahoo forum calling it a Theni Raja/Nellore Balu combo. It appears like a song from both these guys who met in Chennai moments before, and decided to throw their soul into the song and honoring the melody to the tee...

http://play.raaga.com/kannada/song/album/Irattai-Roja-T0002721/Unnai-Padatha-264962

ravinat Fri May 16, 2014 7:26 pm

I do not know a word of Telugu. How am I able to relate to the emotion of this song? It comes out so clearly, that this is the voice of a character who has lost his love. Only Balu can transcend languages with his expression the way he does with this Abinandana song (Eduta Neeve) ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W6RHTdkrIY

All the songs of Abinandana were good, but this one was outstanding. I have written about Prema Entha Madhuram in syncopation discussions. Ade Neevu, Prema Ledani are other fantastic Raja Balu melodies in this film. Raja and Balu had a clean hit in this film.

ravinat Mon May 19, 2014 4:54 pm

Gaana Kuyile Kannurakkam from Pooncholai (Tamil 1996). There are three versions of this song. The first version is by Raja himself. The second version is by Unni and Bhava and the third version is by Balu and Bhava.

You have to hear all the three versions to tell the difference between the master of expression and ordinary singers. Raja is not a professional singer and I will not complain here. Unni is perfect with his pitch and struggles to get expression in his voice. Balu brings out the true emotions of the song effortlessly while maintaining all the technical requirements of the song. Talk about the emperor of playback...

I hate technology when I hear this song. I am sure, there were separate recordings and the singers came and went doing their parts. If this had happened live, Bhava would have learned a lesson or two from the master. I do not see any evidence even today Very Happy

Sponsored content

Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs

Re: Only SPB can deliver - Raja songs